Improved hydraulic apparatus



N. PETERS, PHOYD-LITMOGRAPHER. WASHINGTONY D CV i @steigt 5mm @anni l' Wo @time man wcw team Pawn: No. 84,719, acted December s, '1868.

IMIPROVD HYDRAULIC APPARATUS The Schedule referred to in these Lettere Patent and making parl: o f the eamo.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same; and

Figure 3 shows a section, as formed by a plane passing vertically and longitudinally through the walkingbeam.

` Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each. In the ordinary overshot water-wheel, the force exerted on the wheel by the water is advantageously applied only at. those points at which a line passing from the bucket to the axis of the wheel is exactly or nearlyat right angles to a perpendicular; consequently the water in the buckets, at or near the top of the wheel, and at or near the bottom, has but small leverage power, and exerts but little force in producing motion.

My invention has for its object the more economical and eiiicient application of water-power to the propulsion of machipery, such that the watery will, throughl the whole extent of its fall, operate on the machinery to which it is applied with ahnost its maximum of leverage power.

The nature of my invention consists- First, in the construction of upright cylinders, with suitable ports and valves, whereby the weight of falling columns ofnwater shall act in producing motion alternately on pistons arranged in'such cylinders, and afftached to the opposite ends of a walking-beam.

Second, in combining, with such cylinders, tubular balanced valves, for opening and closing the-ports by which the water is admitted into the pistons.

Third, in the construction of 'devices by which to render such valves adjustable, so as to cut off the supply of water at any desirable part of the stroke.

Fourth, in such construction of devices, that, while a single motion shall operate both valves, the -open ports of one cylinder may be closed before the completion ofthe downward stroke of its piston, without opening the ports ofthe other cylinder till the upward stroke of its piston shall be complete.

Fifth, in the construction of, devices by which a greater or less length of throw is given to the valves, whereby the` ports are more or less completely uncovered, for the admission of water to the pistons.

Sixth, in the construction and combination of devices, by which the power th'us generated may be economically applied, and so regulated in its application as to he adapted to4 the amount' of work to be done; and Seventh, in the use of a mechanism thus constructed as a fluid-meter.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation.

A is a suitable bed or foundation.

B isa tank or reservoir, or may represent a headrace, by which water is supplied to the hollow cylinders, b b.` These hollow cylinders b b are so situated with reference to the reservoir B, that the water may flow all around them, and be admitted into them through ports on all sides, as presently to be explained.

Gis awalking-beam, the ends of which are connected by shafts or piston-stemsc c' with pistons ee, one in each of the cylinders b b', such pistons being so tted therein, with or without packing, as to operate closely though freely.

From the walking-beam C, motion is communicated by an arm, pitman a, and crank y, or other like devices, to a shaft, D, on which is hung the ily-wheel D', thence the power is applied to other machinery in any known way. I

In the sides of the cylinders b b', above the bottom of the reservoir B, and also above the top of the pistous e e', at their highest point of throw, are the waterports (Z d'. Through these, water is allowed to enter the cylinders b b', and, by-its weight, give to the pistons e e' alternately a downward throw. But to seciu'e the proper supply and cut-oii, I surround each of the cylinders b b with close-fitting tubular valves c al. These valvesal a open and close the ports d d respectively, opening alternately to allow the water to flow into the cylinders b b and operate the pistons e e', and closing alternately to cut oil" the supply of water at any desirable point of the downward stroke of the pistons.

On the main shaft D, is an eccentric, j, which operates. in a yoke, f1, the latter being connected by a rod, f", to

a slotted lever, g, the shaft-pin o operating in the slot o of the lever g.

The rod f is threaded ata either end with Aright and left-hand screw-threads, which ends are inserted in` tapped sockets, so that the rod f may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure.

The lever y is fastened at the lower end to some xed point which serves as a fulcrum and at its other end, through the intervention of a block, h, with wrist s, playing in a slot, s, it drives back and forth the reciprocating shaft l.

.lhe block his adiustable on` the shaft l, and is fastcned" at any desirable point by a screw, s".

one lever, m or m', to the corresponding valve-lifter n n', a wrist on each support u u. playing in a slot, lr.

The valvelifters n n are so jointed together, and so connected, each to its valve a or a', as to move such valve up and down in the line ofthe axis of its cylinder,

into and from'the opposite cylinders, exerting in each y ferred to, are as follows One or both of the blocks l .-re adjustable on the] reciprocating shaft Z.

It will be observed that the arm x 011 the walkingbeam O is slottedJ so that the rear end of the pitman x is adjustable therein.

The crank y is likewise made adjustable hyla slot in the circular head y', so as to bring the forward end of the pitman az nearer to or more remote from the centre of motion.

The forward end ofthe eccentric rod f is carried by a support, q, and by it is raised or lowered along the slot, o.

This support is connected by a lifter, q', with a rocking shaft, z, and this, in turn, is operated by a lever, fs.

The operation of the machine described is as follows The devices being, for example, in the position shown in ligs. 2 and 3, water flows through the port d into the cylinder b, and the .veight of it on the piston c, gives the latter a downward throw. I

During the descent of this piston e, the water continues flowing in, illing the upper end of thecylinder b to the level of the waterinv the reservoir or forebay B, till it is-cut olf by the downward throw of 'its valve c. The water thus resting on the piston c, exerts its whole power on the end of the walking-beam G, in a direction nearly or exactly at right angles to the beam.

The descent of the piston c through the wc lking-beam C, arm x, pitman a, and crank y, operates the axle l)t Through the eccentric f, rod f, lever g, reciprocating shaft Z, and the devices connecting them to the `tubular Avalves a a', the valve a is slid down over the port. l at the time, or a little before the piston c has completed its downward throw. By this the supply of water is cut off. The piston e passes below the lower end of the cylinder b, or below suitable ports in the cylinder b, and the water is discharged.

If, as shown in g. 3, the piston descendsbelow the lower end of its cylinder Z1, it should be kept centred in the axial line of its cylinder by guides In the mean time, the same motion of the reciprocating shaft Z, which closed the valve c down over the port d, raises the opposite valve a', and uncovers the ports d in the other cylinder b' Itspiston, e', then being at the highest point of its stroke, water is thus admitted into this cylinder, with -the result already described. v

Thus waterA is admitted and discharged alternately the maximum ofpower on the walking-beam.

The objects in view, in the various adjustments re;

First. By the slotted arm a' and slotted crank y, I adapt the power to the resistance, or, in other words, tothe work to be done, the amount of water being often variable, as well as the resistance. The principles on which such adjustments should be made are well known.

l Second. The eccentric, j, is adjustable in its yoke, f',- so as to giv'e the reciprocating shaft vZ a throw earlier or later in the revolution of the shaft D, and open and close the valveslat anytime desired.

Third. By the lever z, shaft z, lifter q', and support q, I raise or lower the forward end of the rod f in the slot o'. By raising or lowering it, I increase or decrease the length of the throw of the shaft Z, and consequently the height to which the valves a a are lifted, and the extent to-which the ports d d are uncovered.

Fourth. By shifting the adjustable block Z",'and so increasing or lessening the length of the shaft Z between the blocks Z Z', and shifting the position of the block h' to correspond, I accomplish theresult last stated, and also secure an adjustable cut-olf.

By shortening the shaft Z betweenthe heads Z l', I give the valves a af a quicker downward throw, thereby closing the ports cZ d', and cutting oi'the water before the completicn of the downward stroke cf the piston operation, with but a part ofthe motion usually given to other valves.

With the throw of the reciprocating shaft Z, the IValve' at its rear end drops, covers the ports, and as it would be a waste of motion to throw it further, well as occasion a loss by friction, I let it rest on thebottom of the reservoir or forebay, and, by a slot, lr, in the levers m m', allow the ends of the supports 'ulu to play up and down during the remainder ofthe forward throw vof the shaft Z and its return to the same point. The supports n. u then come into requisition, and the valves receive an upward throw or lift, as alreadydesciibed.

By extending the forebay B around the valves a a', I ,secure a uniform pressure of water on all sides, and thus perfectlybalance them. Loss of power from fric tion, and wear and, tear, are thus reduced to a minimum.

If the fall be considerable, the walkingbeam can be lengthened, so that the water will` always act in a line never varying but a few degrees from a right angle with .j the walking-beam.

The cylinders can be made of any desired capacity, .so as to utilize the entire volume of water. Then, by adjusting the length of the arm or crank, so as most cil'ectually to adapt the power and motion thus produced to the resistance, I construct an economical cheap, and effective water-power.

Ordinarily, only the weight of the water is used, but the cylinders may be covered, and connected'with a head of water, whereby the force. of an escaping current or 'rush of water may be made available 'for the purposes named.

The apparatus described is useful as a fluid-meter, aswell as a water-power. For such use, the valvesa a may be set so as to cut oft` when the cylinders are full, or before, if so preferred... Then the capacityof the cylinders, up to the point of cut off, being known, the quantity of fluid run through themnray be easily ascertained. 'In connection with water-worksfor supplying a city with water, the apparatus described would be of great value.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pair of upright stationary cylinders, vhaving ports for the admission of water from the foi-ebay, in combination with valves a a', which open and close such ports, and pistons e e', which operate inside the cylinders, and are attached to the opposite arms of a walking-beam, substantially as and for thepurposes above set forth.

2. A reciprocating shaft Z, when used for actuating the valves ofwater-power cylinders b b', and constructed with adjustable connections, h and Z', for securing an adjustable or variable cut-off, and giving any desirable lift to the valves, substantially as above set forth.

3. Impartiug to the reciprocating shaitZ a greater .A

ward stroke of its piston shall be nearly or quite vcomplete, substantially as and for the purposes liereinbefore expressed.

5. The slotted'arm x, on the walking-beam C f a water-power, and the slotted circular head y', or its equivalent, connected together by a ptma'n, af, adjust- In testimony' whereof, I, the said JOHN FINDLEY. able at each end, 'the parts being arranged and oper- THOMPSON, have hereunto set my hand.

ating substantiallyas and for the purposes hereinbefore JNO, Fm'DLEY THOMPSON.

set forth. Witnesses:

6. The upright cylinders b b', wlth valves, ports, and ELL TORRANCE- pistons, as a. luid-meter, constructed and operated sub- Y Q H CHRISTY staintially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth. 

